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Science Friday is your trusted source for news and entertaining stories about science.
Science Friday at the Aspen Ideas Festival
Ira Flatow and the SciFri crew will put on a live show in Colorado on June 30th.
A Peek Inside the Mind of Elon Musk
An excerpt from the new biography “Elon Musk.”
The Octopus Whisperer
To keep the brainy creatures healthy in captivity, caretakers employ a variety of tricks, including dog toys.
Meet the Cock-Eyed Squid
This midwater cephalopod sports different-size eyes for different functions.
Take a Selfielopod for #CephalopodWeek!
Print one of our cutouts and take your own selfielopod for Cephalopod Week.
The Attraction of Liquid Magnets
Liquid magnets lend themselves to art, as well as medical research.
What Lemurs Can Teach Us About Human Evolution
An excerpt From “The Strange Case of the Rickety Cossack and Other Cautionary Tales From Human Evolution.”
The Silk Road’s Turn Toward Biotechnology
Using a protein found in silkworm moth cocoons, researchers at Tufts University in Boston are developing a range of biodegradable materials and therapeutic devices.
What Role Does the Sun Play in Vitamin D Synthesis?
The sun kickstarts a process that converts a vitamin D precursor into the active form your body needs.
The Story Behind That Iconic Milk Drop Picture
An engineer creates a perfect liquid crown using innovative flash photography.
The Origin Of The Word ‘Sun’
You’ve heard of “heliocentric.” So why don’t we call it the “helio?”
Limpet Teeth Tell of Daily Grind
The title-holder for strongest biological material goes to a small mollusk.
A Date Palm Named Methuselah
An excerpt from “The Triumph of Seeds,” by Thor Hanson.
The Fine Art of Toxic Waste
An engineer and an artist are transforming pollution from coal mines into pigments used to tint paint.
How the Bombardier Beetle Packs Its Punch
Researchers have figured how a toxin-spraying beetle packs its pulsing punch.
Sun Halo, With Sundog Companions
When the sun interacts with six-sided ice crystals, ethereal optical effects can occur.
From Feed Lot to Pasture: The State of U.S. Pork
An excerpt from “Pig Tales: An Omnivore’s Quest for Sustainable Meat.”
How Math is Like Baking: You Just Need a Recipe
An excerpt from “How to Bake Pi” by Eugenia Cheng.